When’s the last time you picked up a paintbrush? Not for the sake of home improvement, but for the carefree feeling of covering a canvas with whatever you damn well please. As Picasso said, “Every child is an artist. The question is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” The answer: Artista. This new creative branch of Manifesta Safaris’ superpopular Las Olas surf retreats in Nayarit, Mexico, now offers three-day painting retreats in Carmel, where women of all ages can make like kids in art class—but this time with top-of-the-line glass palettes, acrylic paints, horsehair brushes, and professional abstract painter Lauryn Taylor leading the way. Taylor’s tips on technique and her wise words of encouragement give students the spark they need to light that creative fire.

The retreat kicks off Monday night with a welcome dinner at the Cypress Inn, the top-notch lodge by the sea where you’ll also be staying. The next day begins with breakfast before you head to the painting studio just blocks from Carmel’s breathtaking beach. There, you’ll dive into a skills workshop peppered with demonstrations to get you started on your own canvas. Intermittent breaks—afternoon yoga, walks on the white-sand beach, a glass or three of wine—serve as inspiration. Enjoy evening cocktails at Casanova, a cozy Carmel restaurant that features an award-winning hand-dug wine cellar.

Day two expands on the color, texture, and shape elements you learned on day one, this time with an emphasis on realism. Like so many artists before you, you’ll paint the inimitable landscapes and seascapes of Carmel using the skills you’ve learned. After dinner, the retreat embarks on a late-night painting party (accompanied by fruit, wine, and chocolate), where a little liquid courage helps you fill your canvas with the day’s memories. By now you’re an expert, so day three is spent sussing out your genius at your own pace, and the experience is capped with a farewell lunch.

Artista also offers a popular encaustic retreat led by William Harsh, a 20-year veteran of Benicia’s art community, where students learn the centuries-old technique of painting with molten wax. No matter which workshop you attend, as you pack your bags on the last day, you’ll be dreaming about quitting your job and opening a gallery of your own.

-Rachel Levin

CALL FOR DATES. PACKAGE RATES RUN $1,375–2,450, INCLUDING ACCOMMODATIONS, PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS’ TOOLS, PAINTS AND SUPPLIES, ART AND YOGA INSTRUCTION, SOME MEALS, WINE, HORS D'OEUVRES, AND BEVERAGES. 831-625-5748, ARTISTACREATIVE.COM.